Bridge



March 24, 1936.

'w. A.. RUSSELL BRIDGE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 21, 1934 W. A. RUSSELL March 24, 1936.

BRIDGE Filed Dec. 21, 1934 3 Sheets-Shee t 2 March 24, 1936. w RUSSELL Y 2,035,193

' BRIDGE Filed Dec. 21, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 24, 1936 BRIDGE William Alton Russell, West Monroe, La. Application December 21, 1934, Serial No. 758,698

7 Claims.

This invention relates to movable bridges or bridges which are adapted to be opened so-as to permit passage of boats or vessels through the bridge, and has for its object to provide a new and improved bridge of this description.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several drawings.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of one leaf of a bridge embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detailed sectional view of one of the main operating cylinders shown on Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the meeting ends of a double leaf bridge showing the locking mechanism;

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation on line 6-6 of Figure l.

Figure 7 is a sectional elevation on the line 11 of Figure l with the leaf in the open position.

Figure 8 is a section similar to Figure 3 with the piston rod omitted.

Figure 9 is a section on the line 99 of Fig. 3.

In Figures 1 and 2, I have shown a portion of one leaf of a rolling lift bridge which may be constructed in the ordinary manner, wherein girders or trusses I provided with segmental portions 2 are adapted to rest or roll on a horizontal surface or track 3 of a pier 3'. Slip preventing means are provided between said segmental portions and track. Two or more of these girders or trusses are provided, and same are rigidly connected and spaced by floor beams 4 which support the floor 5 in the usual manner. A counter-balance 8 is provided and so proportioned that the center of gravity of the moving leaf or section lies at or near the center of the circle, of which the said segmental portion is an arc. Live load anchors l of the usual type are provided.

In the space between the girders or trusses, cylinders 8 are provided parallel to the plane of said trusses or girders, said cylinders being pivotally connected to said girders at or near the center of said rolling segment on one side of said cylinder, and also pivotally connected to a beam or support 9 on the other side of said cylinder by pivots 8'. A piston or pistons Ill are adapted to slide in each cylinder 8. Said piston I is connected to a rigid frame H attached to the pier or support by means of a piston rod l2.

Disposed between said cylinders 8 and also pivotally connected to beams 9, by pivotal connection 9, said pivotal connections being concentric with the pivot 8 supporting said cylinders 8, is a platform l3. A rigid brace I4 connects said platform l3 to said cylinders 8 so as to cause saidplatfornr l3 and said cylinders 8 to move in unison. Mounted on or supported by said platform I3 are fluid tanks l and I6 and a pneumatic tank l'l. Fluid tanks I5 and I6 are preferably, although not necessarily, hydraulic fluid tanks containing a relatively non-compressible fluid such as oil. Also mounted on said platform l3 are compressors l8 driven by suitable electric or gasoline motors l9. Disposed between said cylinders 8 and said fluid tanks [5 and I6 are rigid fluid conduits 2B and 2| adapted to pass a non-compressible liquid such as oil or the like. Connecting said fluid tanks l5 and I6 and said-pneumatic tank H are rigid pneumatic conduits 22. Connecting said pneumatic tank I! and said compressors I8 are rigid pneumatic conduits 23.

Suitable valves or devices to control and limit the motion of the span are provided. One such arrangement of valves is shown in Figure 1 in which 24 is a valve disposed between pneumatic tank [1 and fluid tanks l5 and i6, and provided with a vent to atmosphere 24', and so constructed that pressure is produced or admitted on one side of each piston and relieved on the other side of said piston simultaneously when the ports of the valve are brought into proper relation in one position of the valve. When the handle of the valve is rotated 90 degrees, pressure is admitted to the side of the piston which formerly was relieved, and relieved from the side of the piston which formerly was under pressure. In other words, this valve causes the pistons or cylinders to be double acting, and is of the usual type well known in the art. A valve 25 is provided, as shown, so that after the cylinders have completed a portion of their strokes. this valve 25 may be closed and thus prevent further compressed air from the pneumatic tank entering the fluid tanks. and allow the compressed air already contained in the fluid tanks to expand and decrease in pressure, thereby gradually decelerating the motion of the cylinder. The advantage of this will be apparent to one skilled in the art. For example, let us suppose that the cylinders are designed to operate the bridge against a 60 mile per hour wind in a given time. If then no wind be blowing or if blowing, it be blowingin a direction to assist the opening orclosing of the leaf, a smaller pressure within the cylinder will be sufficient. 55

The operator may then, after the inertia of the leaf has been overcome, close valve 25 and allow the air which has been admitted to the system to expand and complete the opening or closing of the leaf and by so doing greatly conserve the supply of compressed air.

Check valves 26 are disposed between the operating cylinders 3 and the fluid tanks l5 and I6. These valves 26 are normally held closed by suitable springs and may be released at the will of the operator by any desired means. The purpose of these valves is to trap fluid within the operating cylinders and thus hold the span from rotating in either direction after it has been moved or rotated to any desired position.

In Figure 3 I have shown one form of mechanism which automatically causes the 'cylindersto move more slowly as they approach the end of their travel in either direction; in other words asthe leaf approaches the nearly'open or the nearly closed position. Piston I3 which isadapted to slide in main operating cylinder 8 is fitted with extensions {Hand 28 in which are V shaped slots 23. As the cylinder approaches the end of its travel in either direction,'the'forward'extension enters the corresponding opening 30 and gradually restricts the fluid from flowing out of that part of the cylinder which is ahead of the piston, since it must escape through the constantly diminishing aperture formed by the V shaped slot 23. Consequently, pressure is built up ahead of the piston resulting in a gradual slowing up of the motion of the cylinder. In other words, the operating cylinders themselves are made to act also as buffer cylinders when they approach the limiting positions. This is very desirable in seating the span against its an 'chorage without undue shock. Checkvalves 3|,

normally spring set, are provided so that full pressure may be admitted to the cylinder when its motion is reversed.

The'above mentioned valves 24, 25 and 26may be of any desired type,'and operated by any desired means, manually or remotely by means .of electric solenoids or motors, or by pneumatic or fluid pressure means.

From the above description, it'will be seen that the bridge'may be operated in either direction under full or reduced power, or held in any desired position against wind or other forces. It will also be seen that the moving leaf will be automatically buffed or retarded when approaching the nearly open or the nearly closed position, thus protecting the moving leaf and sub-structure from shock.

It will be noted-that in the present invention all of the above mentioned fluid and pneumatic conduits may be rigidly connected pipes without flexible connections or swivel joints, in contradistinction to the prior art, and with a consequent freedom from maintenance and loss of pressure due to leakage.

Of course, a great many other arrangements of valves are possible which will accomplish similar results, and I do not wish to be limited to this'particular arrangement of valves and tanks. Manually or motor operated fluid pumps might be used instead of pneumatic pressure or as an emergency means of operation.

It will also be seen that the invention is equally ap licable to roller mounted" trunnion type bridges such as described in Letters Patent No.

' from becoming wedged in the female casting 34,

cally operated lock of the type shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6. This lock is adaptable to be used at the forward or rising end of a single leaf bridge, at the center of a double leaf span, or as a heel lock on either type.

In Figure 5, I have shown a cylindrical plunger 32 having pointed, tapered and shouldered portions as shown and presently described. Said plunger or look bar is adapted to slide in guide casting 33 which has a cylindrical bore and suitable flanges for fastening same to the leaf.

I Said plunger 32 is received by a sliding female casting 34 in the opposite section or leaf. Said female casting is backed by a spiral spring 35 and is prevented from being pushed out of its guide casting 34 by a stop 36. Beveled shoulders 3! are provided on said plunger adapted to bear against corresponding bevels on the female casting, preventing the slightly tapered portion. 38

said slightly tapered portion of the plunger 38 being made slightly smaller than the corresponding tapered portion of the female casting 34. Any desired means may be used to operate and hold the 'plungers 32. I prefer'to make them self-holding and actuated by pneumatic or hy- "der 43 is firmlyfastened to floor beam 4 and means are provided to produce fluid or pneumatic pressure on either side of said piston 42 within said cylinder 43. It will be noted that after the crank 40 and rod 39 have passed dead' center position when the crank 40 is rotating-in a counter clockwise direction (Fig. 5) further rotation in this. direction is prevented by 'actuating piston 42 having reached the end of its travel.

The mechanism will remain in'the locked posi- 45 tion due to the force exerted by the spring 35 until crank 43 is rotated in a clockwise direction I past the dead center position. Hence, pressure within the operating cylinder is not re-- quired to hold the locks in the locked position.

Gear 46 and pinion 47 and a suitable disconnecting means 48 are provided, which may be connected by any desired means, such as clutches, gears or sprockets to a hand crank for emergency operation.

It will be noted that these locks transmit shear only for small deflections of the span, and moment as well for large deflections of the span.

Hence, in case of failure of the main operating machinery to hold the span in a closed position, these locks will prevent it being blown open by hurricane winds or opened by loads coming upon the rear end of the span. It will also be noted that they adjust themselves for elongations or contractions of the span due to temperature by an elongation or compression of thespring 35, and serve to hold the abutting sections tightly together so as to avoid noise and wear, and at thesame time are easily withdrawn, since they cannot become wedged. They-have the further advantage that they are not subject to overdriving and are economical to build.

It has long been customary to locate the machinery foroperating this'type of bridgeon the movable span and to gear the same to engage fixed racks located parallel to and outside the space enclosed by the trusses or girders. Such an arrangement is shown in Letters Patent No. 752,563 and in Letters Patent No. 1,109,792. It will be noted that with either of these designs the rack is placed outside the planes of the girders or trusses and that the gear engaging said rack is supported by a shaft which is cantilevered from a bearing usually attached to the truss or girder. By reason of the fact that this shaft is subjected to combined torsion and bending, it is necessary that it be made very large, which of course adds to its cost.

It will be noted that in the present invention,

the above mentioned cantilevered shaft, together with its gears and the rack with which it cooperated have been eliminated entirely, and that simply supported pivots, subjected for all practical purposes to bendingonly, have been substituted therefor.

In the prior art with the operating racks located outside the planes of the trusses or girders, it was not practical to extend the deck or roadway any appreciable distance outside the planes of the trusses or girders, since the rear portion of said deck as it descended would strike the rack girders which were necessarily located outside and immediately adjacent to the main girders or trusses.

In the present invention, the deck may be extended outside the planesof the trusses or girders to any desired distance the entire length of the movable leaf as at 49. The desirability of this will be apparent to one skilled in the art, since the transverse floor beams may be materially shortened for a given width of roadway, resulting in decreased size, weight and cost and better application of dead and live loads to the main girders or trusses. This is especially advantageous in bridges having wide roadways such as .those being built on modern super highways. Any decrease in weight of the deck results in a corresponding decrease of several times this weight in the counterweight.

It will be further noted that since the main girders of trusses have been brought closer together for a given width of roadway, the pier supporting the same may also have a smaller dimension transversely to the roadway, with consequent savings in cost.

In the prior art, the operating machinery was rigidly fixed to the span, and had therefore both a rotative and a translatory motion, so that the machinery had to be so designed that it could be successfully operated when rotated through an angle of approximately 75 degrees vertically. This resulted in lubrication difliculties and precluded the desirability of using a gasoline motor mounted on the moving leaf as a source of power. In the present invention, the operating machinery is so mounted that its motion is purely translatory, so that in locations remote from a source of electric power an internal combustion engine may be used to good advantage as a source of power. in the fact that with the present invention a friction clutch is not required between the internal combustion motor and the bridge operating machinery in contra-distinction to the prior art.

In the prior art, the bridge was operated by a comparatively large motor operating through a train of gears for a comparatively short time. In the present invention, it is possible to use a comparatively smallmotor' or other power A further advantage lies source, operating for a comparatively longer time, the energy produced being stored as compressed air. For instance, if in the old art a horse power motor was necessary to open the bridge in one minute, in the present invention it would be possible to use a one horse power .motor, which would operate for 20 minutes or longer and store the energy produced in the form of compressed air, which could then be released to open the bridge in one minute. In

other words, the present invention takes ad-' vantage of the fact that the duties of a bridge operating motor are intermittent, which allows sufficient time for: a small motor to store up 'enough energy to open the bridge. In practice the air tank would have suflicient capacity for several complete operations of the bridge.

It is customary and proper for parties furnishing electric power to make a minimum charge for same, depending on the maximum demand of the device which is to be operated. This is reasonable since the party furnishing the power must have sufiicient generative capacity operating at all times to supply the demand of the devices which they have contracted to furnish power for,

whether those devices be actually operating all the time or not. It is readily seen that the demand charge for a small motor is smaller than that for a large motor. Hence, a great saving in operating cost is obtained by using a small motor if the bridge is opened only occasionally. The present invention permits the use of a smaller motor which eliminates most of the demand charge.

In the prior art, the power was transmitted 7 through a multiplicity of gears, since the speed of v the motor usually had to be reduced in the ratio of several hundred to one, with a consequent loss of 20 to 40 per cent of the motor power due to gear and journal friction. To insure equal tooth loads on both main pinions differential equalizing gears were usually installed. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art, that the mechanism of the present invention is self-equalizing, that all gears have been eliminated except for emergency operations of the locks and that hence the cost of meshing and lining up a multiplicity of gears and bearings is eliminated, and that the machinery included in the present invention is not materially affected by deflections of or minor inaccuracies in fabrication of the span, all of the above resulting in consequent savings in first cost and less chance of operating troubles.

In the prior art, the operating machinery consisted usually of large motors, usually of the slipring type and a multiplicity of costly equipment. to vary the speed of same, and protect the span and the motors. This equipment consisted of a multiplicity of resistance grids, fuses, switches, reversing drum controllers, overload relays, phase failure and reversal relays, limiting devices, solenoid braking devices, and usually a large and expensive submarine cable for control of the remote leaf. It was also usually necessary to have a source of three phase power in order to start the large motors. It will be noticed that most of these have been eliminated or reduced in size by the present invention. The wiring diagram may be reduced from a complicated arrangement, requiring the services of an expert, to a simple system controlling the valves, or it may be eliminated entirely. Modern air compressors are equipped In view of the fact that small motor-compressor sets'may be readily'purcha sed at comparatively small cost, it would probably'be desirabletd mount two separate such units 'on'each leaf to proyide against failure of one unit. One of the'se might be driven by an internalco'mbustion engine to guard against powerline failure. A manually operated fluid pump jmight also1be'installed' for emergency operation, and'a'sealedtank of compressed air to be used only inemergency might be provided. All of the above; power squrcesniayj be installed at a comparatively small cost, so thatlthje probability of not being able to operate "under power'would be very remote. Intheoid art, a large and expensive motor-generator set wasusually resortedto for emergency operation, oriiand cranks which were usually inoperableinahigh win-d were supplied. The'burning out of ajmotor armature precluded power operation until extensive repairs were made, or the failure 'of'asingle gear mighteven render hand operation impossible. The present invention has a verysmall' number of moving parts to wear or give trouble a'nd'm-ost of these move very slowly and are easilyor automatically lubricated,"since the fluid usedwould also be a lubricant.

While I have shown the cylinders com ected to the leaf or moving portion of thebridge, and the pistons connected to the pier, it is also possible to reverse this procedure, and connect the'cyl inders to the pier and the pistons to the leaf, inwhich case the operating equipment would be located on the pier and connected 'to the cylin'ders'by rigid conduits. This is not so desirable, since itfusually requires a larger pier 'and'a consequ'eritly"decreased width of channel opening. a

I am aware that a great many variationsfalling within the scope of this invention are possible, such as interposing a ram between the pneumatic and the fluid tanks to secure a greater or lesser intensity of pressure in the latter, and I donot therefore wish to be limited to the precise details of arrangementshown.

Having described my invention; I believe that the device is new, useful and economical in that, in a movable bridge of the bascule type I'h'ave:

1. Eliminated all main operating gears. v

2.v Reduced the size and cost of motive power required.

3. Reduced operating cost by reasonof a. reduced demand charge.

supply.

energies "r'n'ents iihcludinfg spac'd -girders fand having its teeter offgra'vity isposed substantially at the fgehteifofits rolling segments,* supporting surfaces "for said segments on "which they rest and roll,

cylinders pivotally connectedto said rolling lift --"5 f'biidge leaf "substantially at *the center of said r'ollifig' segmentaf said cylinders being located in- "side the planes or said"'spa'ced girders of which thesegments are a part, pistons adapted to slide in said cylinders, rigid frames projecting from T0 neer-re ates; surfaces} piston rods each haviiig 'orieerid fl i ed to one of 'said'pistons and the other end *cGniicted to' one *of said rigid frarnesfa plat fc'rrm' disposed between said-cylinbridge an the aid ders and votally fisald cylinder piv rigid braces cdeeecen said 'piatrsrm and said cylin- 'd'ers, jand means rnounted' 6n said platform to produce fluid-pressure -witliin said cylinders, so

as to cause motion of the leaf sub stantially as '20 fcor'np'osed' of spaced girders provided with segj'mental 'portiensadaptedtorest and roll on horizontal supportingsurfaces, 'a' supporting surface- 25 necte stone" adapted to in "said cylinders, frames fixed to 'the"supporting surface on ""whichsaid"segments "rest andfroll, piston rods connecting saidjpistons with" frames, and

rneansmountedforf'said platformto produce fluid pressure j within 'said cylinders so as to cause a rising or falling motion of the leaf.

3., The combination of a counterweighted rollj i'ng ifespan compos d of spaced girders adapted flaterally overh ngi g deck supported above said girders, cylinders disposed between said spaced girders" and 'pivo'tally connected to said span at the center of its'rollingse'gments, pistons slid- :jing" in"'said cylind ers' and "connected by piston" rods tduDWardIy'pr'Gjecting rigid frames fixed u to said "supports, a pl 'atfOrmdisposed between said; spacedfgirdersimd pivotally connected to 5. Made power operation available for remote 10. Rendered remote the probability of "not'being able to operate under power.

11. Decreased size and cost of floor beams.

12. Decreased dimension of pier which is transverse to roadway.

13. Produced a simple mechanism which may 14. Reduced initial and operating costs. i 15. Provided simple and efiicient means for operating, holding in any position, seating and locking a movable span or spans of the'bas'cule 1 type.

I claim:

1. The combination of acounterweighted roll- T ing lift bridge leaf provided with rollingsegsaid" span at "the center of said rolling segments,

rigid braces connecting said platform to said cyl-' 4. Eliminated necessity for'three phase power inders,a'nd"means supported'by said platforms to produee fluid or "pneumatic 'pressure'within said 'cylindersso as to cause a rising or falling motion of "the s pan.

r The combination of a c'ounterweighted roll-' 55 mg lift span (imposed of spaced girders having "segrnental' portion sfadapted'to' roll on supporting surfaces, supporting means for said segmental 'portions,';cylinders, hydraulic fluid tanks, a pneumatic iamg mear s to producepneumatic pres sure all rigidly' corinected'e'achto each and pivotally connected -to said's'pan, hydraulic conduits 'di'sposed'betweensaid cylinders and said hydraulie fluidltanks, pneumatic conduits disposed bef'twensaid hydraulic fluid tanks and said pneumatic "taf be installed and repaired by ordinary mechanics.

"and between said pneumatic tank v :ea'ns'to' producefpneumatic pressure, 'pis'tons slidingin said cylinders and connected by pi's't'orirod's'to 'rigid' frames rigidly connected to said supporting surfaces, bufi'ing devices disposedjbetweerii said pistons and the'ends of said cylinders; and' valves' to control 'the pressure in "said cylinders sofasf'jto control the motion of said spanorif saidsupporting surfaces, substantially a's" iescribed.

neared 'to'said rolling lift 15 e's i bla mf mand" parallel to said gird-"30 ortsj"'siip ports for said girders, a

5. The combination of a counterweighted rolling lift span composed of spaced girders having segmental portions adapted to roll on supporting surfaces, supporting means for said segmental portions, cylinders, pneumatic storage tanks, and means toproduce pressure within said tanks pivotally connected to said span and rigidly connected each to each, pneumatic conduits disposed between said cylinders and said storage tanks, and between said tanks and said means to produce pressure, pistons sliding in said cylinders and connected by piston rods to rigid frames rigidly connected to said supporting surfaces, bufiing devices disposed between said pistons and the ends of said cylinders, and valves to control the pressure in said cylinders so as to control the motion of said span on said supporting surfaces, substantially as described.

6.The combination of a counterweighted rolling lift span composed of spaced girders having segmental portions adapted to roll on supporting surfaces, supporting means for said segmental portions, cylinders, tanks and means to produce pressure within said tanks all pivotally connected to said span adjacent the center of said segmental portions and rigidly connected each to each, rigid conduits disposed between said cylinder and said tanks, and between said tanks and said means to produce pressure, pistons sliding in said cylinders and connected by piston rods to rigid frames rigidly connected to said supporting surfaces, buffing devices disposed between said pistons and the ends of said cylinders, and valves to control the pressure in said cylinders so as to control the motion of said span on said supporting surfaces, substantially as described.

'7. In a bascule bridge, a pier, a leaf composed of spaced girders supporting a floor, said leaf adapted to roll on said pier, an operating mechanism swingingly suspended from said leaf, and abutments fixed to said pier against which said mechanism operates, said abutments being disposed between said spaced girders adjacent the channel face of said pier.

WILLIAM ALTON RUSSELL. 

